David Ellison’s Claim that 70% of Americans are Centrist is Dubious

David Ellison has claimed that 70% of Americans are centrist. However, available survey data suggests otherwise.

Publicly available polling does not support Ellison’s figure. (Photo: Paramount)

The Paramount Skydance CEO has repeatedly cited the statistic while outlining his editorial vision for CBS News and potentially CNN, as reported by Jeremy Barr for The Guardian.

In March, Ellison told CNBC that he plans to target “the 70% of Americans … that identify as center-left or center-right.”

The idea of a large, underserved political center is a compelling narrative in an era of deep polarization. It also aligns with the approach of commentator Bari Weiss, one of his prominent allies.

However, publicly available polling does not support Ellison’s figure. A recent YouGov survey found that about 40% of U.S. adults identify as “center-left,” “center,” or “center-right.”

Data from Pew Research Center similarly places the figure at around 41%, while Gallup reports roughly 45% when including independent-leaning voters. While these figures indicate a sizable political middle, they fall well short of the 70% Ellison has cited.

A Paramount Skydance spokesperson said the company “stands by the stat” but did not provide specific data to support it.